Sustainable Rockfall Protection Using Recycled Tyres for Enhanced Impact Resistance

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Rockfall hazards present a serious risk to infrastructure in mountainous and hilly regions, demanding mitigation systems that are both mechanically robust and economically viable. Reinforced concrete rockfall barriers are commonly used, yet their performance under high-energy impacts depends heavily on energy-absorbing components. This study investigates innovative and sustainable approaches to enhance rockfall barrier performance, with a particular focus on replacing conventional materials with recycled alternatives.

Numerical Modelling of Rockfall Impact

A detailed finite element model of a double-anchored reinforced concrete rockfall barrier was developed using Abaqus/Explicit. The barrier was subjected to a high-velocity impact of 25 m/s from a 1 m diameter spherical rock, representing severe rockfall conditions. This numerical framework enabled accurate simulation of impact dynamics, deformation behavior, and energy dissipation mechanisms within the barrier system.

Performance of Conventional EPS Foam

The study first assessed EPS-11 foam, a traditional energy-absorbing material, for enhancing the impact resistance of the barrier. While EPS foam demonstrated some capacity to reduce structural response, its performance was limited in terms of deformation control and long-term sustainability. These limitations motivated the exploration of alternative, more resilient materials.

Recycled Tyres as Hyperelastic Energy Absorbers

Used car tyres were investigated as sustainable hyperelastic energy-absorbing layers, modeled using the Arruda–Boyce constitutive model. Three configurations were examined: an unprotected barrier, a barrier with a single tyre layer, and a barrier with double staggered tyre layers. The hyperelastic nature of tyres enabled effective redistribution and absorption of impact energy through large deformations.

Impact Response and Energy Dissipation Analysis

Simulation results revealed that tyre-based protection systems significantly outperformed EPS foam. The double-layer staggered tyre configuration exhibited the highest internal energy dissipation (EVDDEN), demonstrating superior impact energy redirection. Compared to the unprotected barrier, peak deformation was reduced by 16.08% with a single tyre layer and by 51.16% with double layers, while vertical settlement decreased by 10.90% and 48.79%, respectively.

Robustness under Variable Impact Velocities

Additional simulations across impact velocities ranging from 15 to 30 m/s confirmed the robustness of the tyre-based systems. The double-layer configuration maintained high effectiveness under increasing velocities, with optimal performance observed at 25 m/s. Crack propagation and energy transfer to the concrete structure were significantly mitigated, highlighting recycled tyres as a low-cost, durable, and sustainable solution for rockfall protection.

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#HyperelasticMaterials
#CivilEngineering
#MountainInfrastructure
#StructuralSafety
#GreenEngineering
#LowCostSolutions
#InfrastructureResilience
#ProtectiveStructures
#SustainableConstruction
#EngineeringSimulation
#DisasterMitigation


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